20 • THE CIVETTA, 



habit of writing occasionally on natural history, 

 I would make honourable mention of his great 

 liberality in my next publication, and that, in 

 the meantime, I would send Torlonia a full 

 account of our interview. * 

 < I should have stuck fast for money in Basle, 

 had not Lord Brougham's brother (William 

 Brougham, Esq.) luckily arrived in the town 

 that very day. He immediately advanced me 

 an ample supply. 



All went well after this, until we reached 

 Aix-la-Chapelle. Here, an act of rashness on 

 my part caused a serious diminution in the 

 family. A long journey, and wet weather, had 

 tended to soil the plumage of the little owls ; 

 and I deemed it necessary, that they, as well 

 as their master, should have the benefit of a 

 warm bath. Five of them died of cold the 

 same night. A sixth got its thigh broke, I 

 don't know how; and a seventh breathed its 

 last, without any previous symptoms of indis- 

 position, about a fortnight after we had arrived 

 at Walton Hall. 



The remaining five have surmounted all ca- 



* Prince Torlonia, on receiving my letter, made Passavant 

 smart severely for his conduct. 



